Phoenix Heatwave Forces American Airlines to Cancel 50 Flights

Those living in or visiting Phoenix aren't the only ones feeling the heat with record-breaking temperatures this week. Airlines — and specifically American Airlines — have been forced to cancel flights into and out of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) because the heat has proven to be too scorching to operate some aircraft.

The triple-digit temperatures that have plagued Phoenix during this week's heatwave have forced American to cancel 50 flights. On Tuesday, Phoenix hit a daily record when temperatures reached a scorching 119°F. And, as a result, AA was forced to cancel 43 flights that were scheduled to operate to or from PHX. On Monday, seven flights were canceled when temperatures peaked at 118°F.

"The primary concern is regional aircraft that are operated by Mesa and SkyWest," a spokesman from AA said. "We use CRJs, and their maximum operating temperature is 118 degrees. Boeing/Airbus is higher."

If you're traveling to or from Phoenix today and your flight is scheduled to arrive or depart between 3:00pm and 6:00pm, AA is offering the flexibility to change your travel without a fee. If this impacts your flight, you can call AA reservations at 1-800-433-7300. In addition, AA is recommending to check the status of your flight on aa.com before heading to the airport.

AA doesn't anticipate that the heat will impact any of its flights past today.